Meet barrel racers Loren Altman and Mia Shaffer

Mia on Kramer at Dime

It’s the talk of the town – errr, or at least the Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia barrel racing communities – Mia Shaffer is sitting in the top 10 of the 1D at the NBHA Youth World Show aboard a horse she’s barely run. That horse? Loren Altman’s gelding, Dark Mountain Ashes, better known as Kramer. The duo ran a 15.0 yesterday, right behind Congress Sweepstakes Champ Trevor Pruitt. The 1st Go will finish up today, but if you don’t know about Mia or Loren, we’ve got you covered! The two have both been interviewed in the past by The Barrel Racing Blog, and we’ll repost those interviews so you can catch up on these two top cowgirls. Western PA Cowgirl Runs with Big Dogs at VA Futurity

At 20 years old, Elderton, Penn.’s Loren Altman has already had her share of great horses and won her share of titles in the arena. With a Congress Top 10 and an International Barrel Racing Association Pennsylvania Youth 1D Championship under her belt, Altman has now taken a step into the futurity pen, stepping aboard her filly, Smart Plan For Her (Cutes), where she finished 2nd in the average at the Speed Horse Bonanza Futurity in Herndon, Va. April 9, 10 and 11…(Read More)

Mia Shaffer didn’t start out to win the Youth 1D saddle this year – in fact, she was lucky to run this year at all. A tragic car accident had sidelined Shaffer for a few months at the beginning of the season. It took help from family and friends to get back in the saddle, but in the end, Shaffer claimed the Youth 1D Championship at the last barrel race of the season. Her year was full of highs and lows, but in the end her 19-year-old gelding, Bunches O’ Honey, or “Mac,” pulled through, with the help of her 6-year-old mare, Taponita Sandy, or “Raz.”…(Read More)